IntegratingOrganic Photovoltaics

&Tension Membrane Fabrics

Diego VillamizarPrincipalSKYShades of Southern California

Overview

• Basics

• Applications

• Project Photos

• Solar Initiatives

SKYShades specializes in the design, engineering and installation of high-quality tension membrane fabric structures

We also offer exclusive SOLAR ROOFING FABRICS through our Integrated Building Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Systems

About SKYShades

Applications

US Tensile BeginningsPTFE Fiberglass and NASA (1969)

First commercial projects (1972) Lightweight long-span roofs (Silver Dome - 1975)

Basics

Conventional structures:• Dependent on gravity and rigidity• Walls and framing working in compression

Tensile structures:• Anti-clastic (bi-axial) forms• Membrane and cables working in tension

Thus, the fifth building material:• Wood, stone, metal, glass, and . . . membrane

Sustainability• Green Building Attributes - LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Lightweight materials - cuts down on support structure requirements Allows natural lighting while reflecting radiant heat – reducing energy requirements

and utility costs

• Efficient Engineering• Daylighting• Lighter Weight• Fabric recycling • Steel is recycled• New solar applications

Design Examples

Wolf Creek

Lake Eola

1,100 m² 11,840sqft PVC

Thowal Prince Palace Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Raptis PlazaBrisbane, Australia

Atrium shade sails to reduce solar and heat glare in existing glazed atriums

PVC/Polyester fabric (1,500 m2 – 16,145sqft)

Edo Tokyo Museum

500 m² PTFE/Glass fabric

10.000 m² - Silicon/Glass fabric

Alexandra Palace

Sea World Australia

Brisbane “The Gabba”

Organic Photovoltaic Panels

OPV Applications

SKYShades Solarbrella

SKYShades Solarbrella

Solarbrella Specifications

General:• 13’ x 13’ coverage• Standard color is white /

additional colors available• 3 year warranty• PVC fabric• Aluminum body/pole• 4 power outlets (DC) with volt

meter• Power Plastic organic

photovoltaic panels• Battery bank in base of unit

Will generate enough clean energy to power 4 laptops for 9 hours

CNN Video - Solarbrellas:http://www.skyshades.com.au/news_and_media/media_releases/article/35/index.htm

OPV Car Port

OPV Car Port Structures

UCSD Canyon View Pool

Benefits of 3rd generation Solar Technology (OPV)

Versus Traditional Solar Panels

Environmentally

• Requires a huge amount of energy input

• Toxic gases and hazardous chemicals such as arsenic, cadmium, and titanium

• Larger carbon footprint; high disposal costs

Traditional PV

• Panels use the lowest carbon footprint of all solar panels and they are biodegradable

• Pose no threat to the environment

(OPV)

Economically

• Expensive due to the high production costs and the high price of silicon

• Extremely heavy

• Roofing systems require reinforcing to carry the extra load

Traditional PV

• Roll-to-roll manufacturing process

• Much lighter

• Eliminates extra load requirements

(OPV)

Efficiency

• Can never be more efficient than on the first day of installation

• Degrade at the rate of ~1% per year

Traditional PV

• OPV panels bonded to membrane

• Simple replacement when energy demands increase

• May be used effectively

indoors and outdoors

(OPV)

FAQs

How efficient are OPV panels?

• Currently, OPV panels have ~7% efficiency, with the theoretical limit in the region of 50-60%

• Since OPV panels generate energy from any light, they generate electricity from daybreak to sunset

FAQsWhat are the comparative costs between conventional PV and Power Plastic?

• OPV utilizes only ink-based materials on a plastic platform (vs. high cost traditional PV)

• OPV printing press manufacturing process is simpler and more cost effective

• Conventional panels repaid over 10-17 years (based on local electricity costs)

• Power Plastic expected to have 4-8 year payback period based on available lease options